02/15/2023
Hi! I would like to introduce myself, Anna, a local Fox Valley LMT, and share some of my journey as to how I have found the very fortunate work of massage therapy. It is in ways long and winding (I will share the more condensed and narrow telling), with much inspirational direction coming from various people and places until I finally settled into beginning my own massage practice in the area that I grew up in.
As a young adult I enjoyed travel and found the most growth when challenged by unaccustomed places and experiences. Anytime I faced an arduous situation my uncle most loved to remind, 'it builds character,' and to some extent, that is where it all began. I worked for his business as a backcountry guide and dogsled musher, taking clients out into southwest Colorado's national forests. It was there my strength as a nurturer was developed thru the responsibility of keeping the dogs in their best condition physically and mentally. After years of this type of work and maintaining my own small kennel of huskies I was inspired by my aunt, Kim Kizzier, teacher and founder of The School of Applied Integrative Therapy Equine, to the world of animal massage. If it is positively and lucratively used in the world of horses, why not sled dogs? As an inspiration that never left, even after my life as a dog musher ceased, I found myself back in my home state of Wisconsin finishing an AAS degree and decided it was a good time for massage school as well. I attended Blue Sky School of Professional Massage and Therapeutic Bodywork in De Pere. It was an 850 hour, 11 month program that provided course work far above the states requirement of 600 hours. There I focused on the medical aspect of massage, attended seminars and hands on training for Precision Neuromuscular Therapy and Craniosacral Therapy and became licensed in 2014.
As I said, the road was winding and not long after graduating I found myself once again moving out of state to pursue other adventure interests but returned a couple years later and here I am settled in at home with a family and 3 year old daughter! Inspire Spa, located in downtown Appleton is where I spent the greater part of the past 5 years honing in on my skills and developing my style as a therapist. It has been an easy fit and I am so grateful for my time with them. Oak Moon Massage was born out of a series of serendipitous events and the offer of a studio space that was opening up in the building shared by my husband's chiropractor. It felt meant to be so I took the leap feeling well supported by so many including my family, the spa that I would be leaving and the clientele that I built up during my time there. The growth of my journey thus far is immense and I only see that continuing as my practice builds and evolves. I look forward to developing my work as a massage therapist which is one of my favorite parts of the profession, being the consistent demand to betterment, as well as connecting with those that choose me to take part on their paths of wellness.
Taking care of the body we have been given shows high gratitude. Any practice that we can implement in the form of self-care is a step towards living a life in love. Be well and thank you for being here!
